Inspiring meaningful change.

Board Co-Chair / Founder

Jorge Brunet-García

Jorge’s 40+ year career has been filled with great ideas and great execution. His creative prowess spans traditional media and digital advertising with a unique ability to understand diverse audience demographics. Jorge’s creative leadership has energized brands in multiple languages and markets from telecommunications, automotive, financial, and pharmaceutical to hospitality, real estate, healthcare, and government. As Founder and Board Co-Chair, Jorge holds our entire team to a high standard and provides the counsel and tools we need to exceed both our clients’ expectations and our own.

When he’s not safeguarding our company’s ethos and having animated discussions with the creative team, Jorge can be found in the kitchen, living up to his reputation as America’s greatest amateur home chef.

Board Co-Chair / Founder

Diane Brunet-García

With more than 30 years’ experience in all facets of marketing, advertising, and public relations, Diane is an advisor, mentor, and local legend in advertising and the arts. After handing over the helm, she is the agency’s navigator, guiding our vision and culture. Making sure we stay on course, Diane is accessible, honest, and equitable, and she is beloved for it.

The role of captain comes naturally to Diane. She is the daughter of a Navy serviceman whose sense of honor and commitment helped shape Diane into a professional and community leader. Her passion advocating for the arts and education has made her Brunet-Garcia’s face in the community. When not welcoming the rising sun with a brisk walk along the St. Johns River, Diane can be found laughing, and sometimes crying, at local theater productions.

Chief Executive Officer

Kimberley Collins

With more than 25 years’ experience, Kim is our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), responsible for our strategic vision and growth strategy, in addition to nurturing agency talent. Prior to becoming CEO, Kim was charged with the development and growth of the agency’s engagement and outreach practice, and paid media team. Helping ensure we fulfill our mission of making a positive social impact, she understands government infrastructures and can navigate complex public health issues to find the right innovative strategies.

Kim can also navigate open water. She has been sailing competitively since childhood, and racing remains her favorite hobby. When in need of greater relaxation, she sets sail from the Florida Yacht Club and cruises the St. Johns River with her husband, Mark, and their daughter.

Chief Creative Officer

Eduardo Sarmiento

Eduardo is Cuban born, American by choice. In his role as our Chief Creative Officer, he inspires teams across the agency to foster creativity and work collaboratively to create great work for a greater good. Before joining B|G, he led teams throughout Latin America to create regional campaigns for global brands like Samsung, MoneyGram, General Mills, and GE, and he has been an adjunct professor at the Superior Institute of Design (ISDI) in Havana. He is also a painter and illustrator. His work has been published and exhibited internationally and lives in the permanent collection of American museums.

Eduardo is extremely passionate about life, ideas, and collaboration and believes that inspiring people is the best currency. Fatherhood is his ultimate privilege.

Chief Operating Officer

Kim Vermillion

As Chief Operating Officer, Kim helps our team think big. When it comes time to hone those grand ideas into strategic solutions, she is at the forefront of our efforts. She leads the account team and agency partners to solidify brand, marketing, and research strategy for clients across the public health spectrum, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute of Mental Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, and Florida Health, among others.

Kim understands that research is the foundation of program innovation and implementation. Her desire to learn extends beyond work into her personal and academic life; she travels frequently to Russia where she worked on her master’s thesis. Kim is also music lover and pianist!

Senior VP, Creative

Aerien Mull

Equal parts artist and analyst, Aerien brings a marriage of critical thinking and design prowess to our agency in her role as our Senior VP, Creative. She has over 15 years experience in developing comprehensive advertising and communication campaigns that meet strategic behavioral change objectives and resonate with at-risk and disparate audiences.

She is a past-president of the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Advertising Federation, a Jacksonville “Top 40 Under 40” recipient, and a GDUSA Person to Watch. Her craft has been recognized nationally and internationally. When she’s not busy leading the team on our latest branding project or campaign, you can find this Michigan native soaking up the sun with her family.

VP, Communications Strategy

LeShaundra Cordier

There’s no way to condense LeShaundra’s resumé into a bite-sized blurb that properly conveys the sheer breadth of her public health experience, but suffice it to say that after 15 years of service in the CDC, her ability to develop strategies that result in actionable impact goes well beyond simply educating and informing audiences. She leads the public relations team, overseeing consumer outreach, earned, and social media efforts. A specialist in drug overdose, injury prevention, emergency preparedness, and maternal and child health, she brings the experience and strategic wisdom necessary to empower our team to develop communications products that serve the greater good.

Before becoming a public health communications expert, LeShaundra ran her own event planning business. These days, you’re likely to find her working on her dating podcast or binge watching sci-fi on Netflix with her nephew and dog.

VP, Creative Operations

Kate Jolley

As the agency’s VP, Creative Operations, nothing can escape Kate’s diligent eyes as she manages the internal flow of projects through the agency. It is a high-wire balancing act, but Kate pulls it off through constant communication and a willingness to get in the trenches with team members and clients. With a hybrid Account and Creative background, you’d be hard pressed to find someone better suited to keep us on track and meeting creative expectations.

The Jacksonville Business Journal selected Kate as one of its 40 Under 40 honorees for her business success, leadership skills, and community involvement. That involvement extends to Kate’s volunteer work advocating for arts education. She also enjoys staying active with her husband, Ben, and their daughter, and exploring the sometimes indecipherable lyrics of Bob Dylan.

VP, Accounts

Anna Jaffee

With over a decade of experience in account management, Anna oversees the account team and much of our client work for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She is a natural and pragmatic problem-solver who knows how to manage the myriad moving parts of agency and client. As a talented relationship builder and strategic thinker, she ensures that clients meet their goals, maintains excellent communication with everyone on the team, and meets client deadlines on time and within budget.

Raised in Jacksonville, FL, Anna pioneered BG’s Atlanta office in 2016 and now calls Atlanta her permanent home. She has developed a strong passion for public health and looks forward to expanding her expertise in new topic areas as our work grows. She is a regular on the Atlanta beltline, and on the Peloton @annajaffee if you can catch her on a ride!

Senior VP, Media

Iwalani Camacho

Iwalani, or “Lani” to her friends and coworkers, is focused on finding cost-efficient advertising purchasing solutions for our clients. She combines expert communication, negotiation, and persuasion skills with analytical thinking. Iwalani has an extensive background in news and broadcast media. At Fox Broadcasting, she worked on launching new shows like Empire while creating advertising plans for older staples like The Simpsons. After completing her MBA, Iwalani moved to the government contracting arena where she worked with Sensis in Washington, D.C. As our resident media expert, she focuses on helping clients make the biggest impact with campaigns that change the world for the better.

Iwalani is a native of Guam, and she is still an island girl at heart. She is also a self-confessed reality television junkie who can tell you about who did who dirty on just about any Bravo, TLC, and E! show.

Board Co-Chair / Founder

Jorge Brunet-García

Jorge’s 40+ year career has been filled with great ideas and great execution. His creative prowess spans traditional media and digital advertising with a unique ability to understand diverse audience demographics. Jorge’s creative leadership has energized brands in multiple languages and markets from telecommunications, automotive, financial, and pharmaceutical to hospitality, real estate, healthcare, and government. As Founder and Board Co-Chair, Jorge holds our entire team to a high standard and provides the counsel and tools we need to exceed both our clients’ expectations and our own.

When he’s not safeguarding our company’s ethos and having animated discussions with the creative team, Jorge can be found in the kitchen, living up to his reputation as America’s greatest amateur home chef.

Chief Creative Officer

Eduardo Sarmiento

Eduardo is Cuban born, American by choice. In his role as our Chief Creative Officer, he inspires teams across the agency to foster creativity and work collaboratively to create great work for a greater good. Before joining B|G, he led teams throughout Latin America to create regional campaigns for global brands like Samsung, MoneyGram, General Mills, and GE, and he has been an adjunct professor at the Superior Institute of Design (ISDI) in Havana. He is also a painter and illustrator. His work has been published and exhibited internationally and lives in the permanent collection of American museums.

Eduardo is extremely passionate about life, ideas, and collaboration and believes that inspiring people is the best currency. Fatherhood is his ultimate privilege.

Senior VP, Creative

Aerien Mull

Equal parts artist and analyst, Aerien brings a marriage of critical thinking and design prowess to our agency in her role as our Senior VP, Creative. She has over 15 years experience in developing comprehensive advertising and communication campaigns that meet strategic behavioral change objectives and resonate with at-risk and disparate audiences.

She is a past-president of the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Advertising Federation, a Jacksonville “Top 40 Under 40” recipient, and a GDUSA Person to Watch. Her craft has been recognized nationally and internationally. When she’s not busy leading the team on our latest branding project or campaign, you can find this Michigan native soaking up the sun with her family.

VP, Creative Operations

Kate Jolley

As the agency’s VP, Creative Operations, nothing can escape Kate’s diligent eyes as she manages the internal flow of projects through the agency. It is a high-wire balancing act, but Kate pulls it off through constant communication and a willingness to get in the trenches with team members and clients. With a hybrid Account and Creative background, you’d be hard pressed to find someone better suited to keep us on track and meeting creative expectations.

The Jacksonville Business Journal selected Kate as one of its 40 Under 40 honorees for her business success, leadership skills, and community involvement. That involvement extends to Kate’s volunteer work advocating for arts education. She also enjoys staying active with her husband, Ben, and their daughter, and exploring the sometimes indecipherable lyrics of Bob Dylan.

Lead Developer

Mike Haefeli

As our Lead Developer, Mike provides technical direction and implementation for the development, design, and integration of our digital solutions. While that sounds complicated, Mike shuns complexity in favor of simple solutions that meet clients’ needs. He’s not just a coding guru and tech whisperer; he’s also a creative collaborator who ensures that every interactive digital project retains a user focus. Mike believes the best way to build good software is by adapting theory to fit needs of the client and codebase.

In his spare time, Mike enjoys tinkering with the latest tech tools. But don’t let his laconic appearance fool you; when the coding is done for the day, Mike likes to cut loose. He enjoys scuba diving and has taken classes in Krav Maga, a self-defense fighting system.

Design Lead

Bianca Paulk

Being a Design Lead is not so much a job to Bianca, as it is the logical extension of her passion. While the portfolio of work she has created for our clients features traditional tenets of advertising and graphic design, Bianca’s instincts are those of a fine artist. Her application of photography, typography, grid systems, and vector graphics is elevated and helps turn campaign collateral into truly special brand elements. She has applied her signature touch to clients as diverse as the Phase Eight Theatre Company, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Administration for Children and Families.

In her spare time Bianca is into, you guessed it, making art. She particularly enjoys working on tactile art like collages and embroidered pieces. She also likes to study new ways to apply digital solutions to fine art challenges.

Associate Creative Director

Colin Barnes

Colin develops and executes visual designs that draw tangible connections between the physical and emotional. While Colin’s design works at a visceral level, it also leaves impressions that resonate and create an entire user experience. His work with typography and photography are examples of Colin pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with traditional treatments. He works with clients like the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to bring consistency, purpose, and creativity to their brand across a variety of media.

Colin has a passion for woodworking, particularly furniture and hand-cut typography, and his dexterity extends to the kitchen where he enjoys testing new recipes. He might also be found binging the latest true crime documentary or mini-series.

Creative Group Head

Cassie Deogracia

Cassie combines personal expression and client needs to develop visuals that are versatile, memorable, enduring, and drive home an on-point message. She’s a structured designer who balances great conceptual and presentation skills. Cassie has a love for design history and principles, and she uses her skills to bring life to campaigns for the United States Department of Agriculture, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, and many more. She is also a great steward of the Brunet-Garcia brand, working to keep our internal and external materials consistent and on-brand.

Not only does Cassie have an affinity for the visual arts, she also appreciates the written word. When she’s not at work or at an American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) event, she’s either curled up with a good book or writing beautiful poetry.

Senior Art Director

Melissa Pierce

Melissa is a Senior Art Director who brings a clever, illustrative touch and unique cultural affinity to her work. She is adept at many aspects of design – from print, to web, to motion graphics. Melissa came to us from Bacardi where she was a packaging graphic developer. She has a great eye for detail and brand consistency, and she also knows how to take limited brand elements and expand and enhance them.

Melissa is the only member of our team who can say she is fluent in Japanese. In her spare time, she likes to make intricate paper cuttings and listen to music.

Senior User Experience Designer / Developer

Bruce Cooke

As a design veteran with a background in IT, Bruce joined Brunet-García to focus on user experience design and development. A graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design, Bruce’s unique blend of graphic and digital design expertise turn inherently complex websites and web applications into rewarding, interactive experiences. Bruce enjoys working with clients and making sure they are active partners on his projects, from conception to completion.

His humor and humanity play a key role in our creative and digital teams’ success and sanity. Bruce has a love for illustration and a good cup of tea. When not standing in front of his computer, you can find him spending quality time with his family.

IT Systems Administrator

Richard Wolfe

In an unsettled digital world, Richard keeps us safe. It is his job to ensure we are working securely and efficiently. Back home in New Zealand, he worked as an art director and design editor before moving to the states where he most recently worked as a full-time Genius at an Apple Store with Apple Technician Certifications in both hardware and software repair.

Richard is now honing his genius to fill the IT needs of BG and our clients by integrating new and existing services with help desk support. He enjoys cooking for and amusing his children while simultaneously calculating the time remaining until they leave the nest.

Creative Production Lead

Bronie Brunet

You’d think after 19 years as Creative Director for Jacksonville Magazine, Bronie would appreciate a break from layouts and long-form document design. But even though her hair color has changed from pink back to its natural hue, her desire to create is as present as ever. Bronie applies her expertise to nearly every content execution you can imagine. With her extensive list of professional contacts, creative experience, and relentless negotiating skills, she’s our lead for all things production.

If Bronie and her daughter Sadie aren’t cruising the aisles at Target, they’re probably hanging out at Diane and Jorge’s pool (with or without them). Although she tried her hand at raising urban chickens, these days she’s content to feed her stale bread to the ducks at Riverside Park instead.

Art Director

Emily Spitler

Emily (Em, for short) is our go-to illustrator when the job calls for something colorful, fresh, and whimsical. She has a passion for character design (the cuter the better), and she excels at creating minimal, line-driven icons, dynamic print layouts and eye-popping social graphics. Whether she’s here at work, brunching at the local coffee shop or “watching” the Jaguars play, you’ll likely find her with iPad in hand, doodling and sketching away.

Em has a huggable goldendoodle named Bird and is currently fulfilling her lifelong dream of writing and illustrating her own children’s book about a little planet who gets lonely and decides to make herself some cute little friends.

Art Director

Dani Simmons

Shifting perspectives, unexpected proportions, and a sense of motion characterize Dani’s unique illustrative style, but it’s her passion for storytelling, strategic communication, and doing something good for the community that drives her work and infuses it with purpose and impact. Before joining our team, Dani got her start making doodles and stationery for a small, traditional letterpress shop, which helped her refine her craft and technique the old-fashioned way.

Dani’s doodling doesn’t desist when she’s off the clock and neither does her desire to do some good. When she isn’t devouring a new novel (or 10), brewing up a cider or IPA in the garage, or compiling her family’s close-kept secret recipes, she’s applying her skills toward anti-racism efforts. Like her pup, Winston, she is big fan of endless naps and long walks on the beach.

Senior Digital Art Director

Sue Raaz

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more thoughtful, well-rounded, and hard-charging art director than Sue. Educated in architecture as well as graphic design, Sue’s multi-disciplinary background enables her to consider the emotional context of the spaces within which her creations reside, resulting in a truly experiential form of design that brings an enhanced sense of dynamism and dimensionality to her work. Sue is skilled in both animation and photography and is constantly exploring new techniques to add to her tool chest.

An accomplished guitar player since the age of 14, Sue met her now-husband playing in a band together in Venezuela before starting a family and moving to the U.S. Her free time is spent satisfying her sweet tooth in pursuit of her goal of becoming a patissier, playing Zelda with her two sons, and learning new languages.

Art Director

Cody Bartz

A resident of Jacksonville by way of Minnesota, Cody’s path to our agency is as unique as his work. Cody brings a holistic artistic approach to his designs, leaning on his study of architecture, landscape, ceramics, printmaking, and other artistic mediums.

When not pushing the boundaries of design on behalf of our clients, Cody rolls up his sleeves on his second job: Creative Morale Captain. Duties include a relentless can-do attitude and willingness to pitch in on any task, no matter how mundane.

Outside of the office, Cody can be found hiking or biking, taking in an art exhibit, reminiscing about his past life in a Tiny House, or passing on his love for art and the natural world to his two young children.

Art Director

Jill Responte

A recent UNF graduate, Jill’s natural talent for artistic composition and her tireless work ethic pack quite a punch on behalf of our clients – as does her passion for making the world a better place through art and design. Her design philosophy is conceptually driven and audience-centric, a skill learned from her time working in fine art and photography.

Jill’s eye for design doesn’t end on the screen or the canvas, she’s an expert thrifter who has a keen eye for vintage clothing. And when her professional artistic duties are done for the day, she expands her range teaching herself the guitar.

Production Assistant / Office Assistant

Josh Taylor

Some people just know how to get things done. Josh is an invaluable member of our production team, coordinating everything from talent to travel and wrangling our motley crew on-set. When the film is in the can, Josh rolls up his sleeves and handles everything from day-to-day admin to coordinating the legendary BG Holiday Party.

A veteran of the local theatre scene, Josh co-founded The 5 & Dime Theatre Company, responsible for over 60 productions since 2011. He himself has appeared on stage in over 40 shows across Northeast Florida.

Senior Copywriter

Matt Namey

Matt’s strength as a copywriter is his versatility. A self-described agency lifer, his advertising credentials range from Chuck E. Cheese’s (no, he can’t get you free tokens) to elder care…and nearly every marketable moment in-between. His copywriting approach leans on that versatility, applying styles and tactics learned from other industries in fresh and novel ways. His favorite part of the work? The thrill of creating an idea from scratch. His least favorite part? Probably timesheets.

When not writing, Matt can be found living his best life running, biking, surfing, and (predictably) eating his way around the Bold City with his soon-to-be wife. On the rare occasion he stops moving, it’s to be with family, cheer on the Jaguars and Seminoles, or relax in his reading chair with a new book.

Associate Creative Director

Franklin Bachrach

Franklin brings 15+ years of design and creative expertise to his position as Associate Creative Director. His leadership experience spans a diverse range of clients — including Wells Fargo, UPS, the American Cancer Society, and his hometown Atlanta Hawks.

A cause-driven creative, Franklin’s approach to leadership is ego-less, inclusive, and collaborative to the core. He prides himself on not just pushing the vision for the creative, but in working with his team to bring the best version of the idea to life.

If you need him outside of office hours, you can find him behind the wheel of his immaculately restored ‘75 Ford truck (named Althea), cheering on his alma mater (Roll Tide), or spending time with his two daughters.

Digital Project Manager

Cesiney Sapin

Cesiney brings a startup attitude to our agency’s traffic department. After a career as chief “do it all” officer across countless industries, she brings her love for cutting-edge digital solutions and project management skills to our team. She’s also an expert-level multitasker, making her right at home in our flurry of projects and timelines.

When not helping us level up our efficiency, Cesiney can be found seeing the world with her husband (they got married in Greece!) or serenading her new bernedoodle Marlo while she plans their next adventure.

Junior Art Director

Andrea Olivera

Andrea brings a natural strength as a conceptual thinker to her role as a Junior Art Director. She prides herself on grounding her work in a strong concept and designing each detail with thoughtful intention. Passionate about her craft, Andrea brings a big picture perspective to even the most specific executions. 

When she’s not immersed in the details of her craft, Andrea puts her curiosity to work in the exploration of hobbies. She’s a dedicated yogi and has taken her practice to new heights with her latest addition — aerial hoop yoga. And when it’s time for a break, you can find her at the beach or the dog park with her pup Cora.

Senior Copywriter

Jorge De Jesús

Jorge’s written a lot of words in 15+ years of agency life. His experience ranges from automotive to Medicare to food and beverage. All in two languages. As our resident bilingual scribe, he brings to life impactful ideas that resonate regardless of language.

His love for the written word also extends beyond business hours. He’s the published author of 19 books and a voracious reader. When he needs a break, he recharges by playing his guitar, firing up some video games, or planning his next bodyboarding pilgrimage to his home break in Puerto Rico.

Board Co-Chair / Founder

Diane Brunet-García

With more than 30 years’ experience in all facets of marketing, advertising, and public relations, Diane is an advisor, mentor, and local legend in advertising and the arts. After handing over the helm, she is the agency’s navigator, guiding our vision and culture. Making sure we stay on course, Diane is accessible, honest, and equitable, and she is beloved for it.

The role of captain comes naturally to Diane. She is the daughter of a Navy serviceman whose sense of honor and commitment helped shape Diane into a professional and community leader. Her passion advocating for the arts and education has made her Brunet-Garcia’s face in the community. When not welcoming the rising sun with a brisk walk along the St. Johns River, Diane can be found laughing, and sometimes crying, at local theater productions.

Chief Operating Officer

Kim Vermillion

As Chief Operating Officer, Kim helps our team think big. When it comes time to hone those grand ideas into strategic solutions, she is at the forefront of our efforts. She leads the account team and agency partners to solidify brand, marketing, and research strategy for clients across the public health spectrum, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute of Mental Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, and Florida Health, among others.

Kim understands that research is the foundation of program innovation and implementation. Her desire to learn extends beyond work into her personal and academic life; she travels frequently to Russia where she worked on her master’s thesis. Kim is also music lover and pianist!

VP, Creative Operations

Kate Jolley

As the agency’s VP, Creative Operations, nothing can escape Kate’s diligent eyes as she manages the internal flow of projects through the agency. It is a high-wire balancing act, but Kate pulls it off through constant communication and a willingness to get in the trenches with team members and clients. With a hybrid Account and Creative background, you’d be hard pressed to find someone better suited to keep us on track and meeting creative expectations.

The Jacksonville Business Journal selected Kate as one of its 40 Under 40 honorees for her business success, leadership skills, and community involvement. That involvement extends to Kate’s volunteer work advocating for arts education. She also enjoys staying active with her husband, Ben, and their daughter, and exploring the sometimes indecipherable lyrics of Bob Dylan.

VP, Accounts

Anna Jaffee

With over a decade of experience in account management, Anna oversees the account team and much of our client work for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She is a natural and pragmatic problem-solver who knows how to manage the myriad moving parts of agency and client. As a talented relationship builder and strategic thinker, she ensures that clients meet their goals, maintains excellent communication with everyone on the team, and meets client deadlines on time and within budget.

Raised in Jacksonville, FL, Anna pioneered BG’s Atlanta office in 2016 and now calls Atlanta her permanent home. She has developed a strong passion for public health and looks forward to expanding her expertise in new topic areas as our work grows. She is a regular on the Atlanta beltline, and on the Peloton @annajaffee if you can catch her on a ride!

Account Director

Chad Villarroel

True to his musical roots, Chad’s nature as an Account Director is to find compositional balance in all aspects of client management. A natural at managing projects of every size and shape, Chad’s experience ranges from app development to leading the creation of multiple campaigns for the CDC’s Stop Overdose initiative.

Chad is also a songwriter and musician who has played onstage in multiple venues around town. Besides music, his other passion is the Jacksonville Jaguars football team. You can find Chad at Jaguars’ tailgates during most Sundays in the fall.

Account Director

Keenan Farrar

Keenan’s role at Brunet-García has expanded from providing training and outreach support for the Florida Department of Health’s Florida SHOTS program to lending her public health expertise to a variety of federal health-related clients. Keenan holds a bachelor’s degree in health administration and a Master of Public Health from Indiana University in her home state. An unparalleled communicator, Keenan couples her thorough understanding of the healthcare industry with adept written and verbal communications skills, allowing her to effectively connect between disparate healthcare interests and effectively educate and influence stakeholders.

When it comes to healthy living, Keenan talks the talk and also walks – or rather runs – the walk. She is an avid runner who looks forward to competing in multiple half and full marathons. She also enjoys watching her son and daughter play sports and hanging out on the Gulf Coast.

Senior Account Manager

Francie Killebrew

Francie combines her two interests of public health and marketing into her position of Senior Account Manager. Working closely with clients and the Brunet-García internal accounts team, Francie provides strategy and communication for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) on the National ALS Registry, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other federal government agencies. Francie is motivated by a passion to help communities address significant public health issues. Her work with the CDC in its efforts to address the opioid crisis is an example of that passion put into action.

Away from work, Francie has a passion for fluffy dogs, particularly Golden Retrievers and Great Pyrenees. She is also an epicure who enjoys trying out new restaurants and dishes in her hometown of Atlanta.

Talent & Culture Coordinator

Kristin Blyar

Kristin’s organization, tact, and attention to detail allow her to expertly manage our client contracts from beginning to end. As our Talent & Culture Coordinator, she helps maintain the agency’s respected relationship with government clients by ensuring contract compliance and that deliverables and billing are in alliance with contract agreements.

When she’s not looking after our motley crew, Kristin spends most of her time with family and friends at the beach or in public parks – though she does find time occasionally to sneak away for a good romcom or Gilmore Girls rerun.

Account Director

Denise Monasterio

With over 15 years’ experience in marketing and communications, Denise brings a strong knowledge of project and account management for corporate, non-profit, and government clients alike. Her ability to build effective client relationships and her outstanding written and oral communication skills help her interpret client needs and translate the impact of our creative strategy to any audience. She’s a team player who provides leadership and assistance to our team in equal measures and makes sure we’re always on track.

Word on the street is that Denise can party plan the heck out of a kid’s birthday party. We’re waiting for her to bring some of her famous baked goods to our next office potluck so we can benefit from her passion for trying out new recipes.

Account Coordinator

Petalia Johnson

Having proven herself a hard worker brimming with potential, Petalia joins the growing list of former BG interns turned full-timers. Petalia leverages her organizational and project management skills to assist our accounts team in day-to-day activities. She prides herself on efficiency and lives by the personal mantra “hard work reflects character.” If there’s one thing Petalia appreciates, it’s a good challenge that gives her the opportunity to show the world what she’s made of.

Originally from Jamaica, Petalia is passionate about dance, especially choreography. She’s an active member of the local dance and freestyle community, having managed troupes of 60+ dancers and choreographed performances for audiences in the thousands. Her pet bunnies, Georgia and Summer, keep her company at home where she writes poetry in her spare time.

Talent & Culture Manager

Melissa Elder

As the manager of BG’s human resources, you could say Melissa is in charge of looking after our most valuable assets–each other. Since we don’t have many complaints to file, Melissa is free to better spend her time and talents guiding the evolution of our culture, safeguarding our ethos, and nurturing an environment of creative collaboration for which she brings two decades worth of HR experience.

An intrepid traveler, Melissa loves to get out there and see the world. She once spent 6 months in China with friends, seeing all the sights, eating all the food, and absorbing the culture. These days, however, you’re more likely to find her spending time with her two boys and their brand new puppy.

Director, Health Marketing Strategy

Everett Long, PhD

If you’d have told us Everett’s PhD was in being awesome, no one around here would have disagreed with you. Turns out, it is in being awesome, at public health communications, that is. For more than a decade, he’s been working with clients just like ours in the public and private sectors, helping them drive awareness and behavior change around some of the heaviest issues in health today. His cultural competence and creative insights inform and enhance our strategic thinking in increasingly profound ways.

When he isn’t channeling his energy into better understanding our audiences, he’s either sweating it out on the trails, the yoga mat, or in TRX class. An aspiring art collector, he loves museums and isn’t satisfied until he’s seen an exhibition at least three to five times. We hope everyone has a chance to see his Halloween costume flex in person–it’s his favorite holiday.

Account Coordinator

Shona Wilson

In college, Shona pursued her twin passions of Public Relations and Sports Management (Go Dawgs!), landing her a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity working at Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta. Thankfully for us, her post-collegiate journey took her down the PR path right to our door where she applies her ample social media experience, writing abilities, and relationship-building skills to keep her accounts moving toward their goals.

In the near future, Shona wouldn’t mind breaking her record of 21 flights in a single year, and perhaps adding a country or two to her list of 24 visited so far. Until then, you can catch her hunting down the freshest produce at the farmers market or buried in the book of the week. Though born and raised in London, it’s sushi, not fish and chips, that she counts as her favorite food.

Account Executive

Amy Mills

Organized and detail oriented, Amy brings years of account service and project management experience to the BG lineup. A true autodidact, she is constantly adding to her professional and emotional repertoire by devouring new books, podcasts, webinars, and even languages as she seeks to better understand the world around her. With degrees in both Marketing and Sociology with a focus on gender studies, Amy is as empathetic as she is effective in how she communicates.

You can find Amy sampling the local cuisine (please be tacos!) of whatever city she happens to find herself during her travels. Otherwise she’s likely petting dogs, volunteering for a charity in need, or taking care of her horse, Little Bit, on whom she often tests out her newly acquired French speaking skills.

Staff Accountant

Sandra Lias

A double threat of administrative know-how and accounting knowledge, Sandra keeps the bills paid, helps manage our growing administrative needs, and coordinates the full-day orientation that all new BG members experience.

A team player with a great eye for detail (a must for our accounting team!), you can always count on Sandra to spot a discrepancy and find a way to correct it. When not keeping our metaphorical train on the tracks, Sandra is at home exploring the parks and nature around town, spending time with family and friends, or unwinding with a good movie.

Senior Business Development Strategist

Natalie Amarin

Detail oriented and a natural go-getter, Natalie brings a scientific approach to our new business development team. One rooted in her studies as a chemical engineer before a career in consulting paired with a Masters in Mass Communications. (How’s that for a background!?) A lover of a good list, she keeps our capture process on track and on target. And true to her scientific roots, she’s never afraid to find innovative ways to get the job done.

When she’s not crafting a mean proposal response, Natalie channels her energy into weightlifting, long walks, and weekend trips to explore new cities with her husband. Her secret to successfully staying busy? Get up early, meditate, and start the day with a good cup of coffee.

Client Budget & Billing Specialist

Jess McKelvin

Accurate and an art-lover, Jess is a natural fit for our team. Jess joined our motley crew with 20 years of billing experience, stretching from her time in the Navy to a long career in finance. She’s a self described perfectionist and a numbers whiz, two traits that are a must for working with budgets and revenue. Keeping our bills paid and the invoices on-time, Jess makes the complexities of billing and budget look effortless.

When she’s not crushing it with the calculator, Jess is out and about taking in the local culture. She loves a good vintage market, estate sale, or comic book convention, and is a regular at art exhibitions around the city.

Junior Business Development Coordinator

Jamie Siegmann

Every day is an adventure in the world of new business. That’s why we’re glad we have Jamie Siegmann on our team. A UGA grad, she joined our agency as a Public Health Communications intern with a deep experience in policy and communications before finding her natural fit in the new business world. She thrives in a fast paced environment, keeping proposals and RFPs on-track with diligence, teamwork, and a near-constant playlist of rock and roll.

When not riding the new business roller coaster, she gets her thrills hiking in her new home of Georgia, jet setting to Africa, Switzerland, or other parts unknown, and learning about other languages…her favorites include German, Spanish, and Arabic. 

Chief Executive Officer

Kimberley Collins

With more than 25 years’ experience, Kim is our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), responsible for our strategic vision and growth strategy, in addition to nurturing agency talent. Prior to becoming CEO, Kim was charged with the development and growth of the agency’s engagement and outreach practice, and paid media team. Helping ensure we fulfill our mission of making a positive social impact, she understands government infrastructures and can navigate complex public health issues to find the right innovative strategies.

Kim can also navigate open water. She has been sailing competitively since childhood, and racing remains her favorite hobby. When in need of greater relaxation, she sets sail from the Florida Yacht Club and cruises the St. Johns River with her husband, Mark, and their daughter.

Senior VP, Media

Iwalani Camacho

Iwalani, or “Lani” to her friends and coworkers, is focused on finding cost-efficient advertising purchasing solutions for our clients. She combines expert communication, negotiation, and persuasion skills with analytical thinking. Iwalani has an extensive background in news and broadcast media. At Fox Broadcasting, she worked on launching new shows like Empire while creating advertising plans for older staples like The Simpsons. After completing her MBA, Iwalani moved to the government contracting arena where she worked with Sensis in Washington, D.C. As our resident media expert, she focuses on helping clients make the biggest impact with campaigns that change the world for the better.

Iwalani is a native of Guam, and she is still an island girl at heart. She is also a self-confessed reality television junkie who can tell you about who did who dirty on just about any Bravo, TLC, and E! show.

Associate Media Director

Zach Hendrix

Zach possesses a unique blend of creativity and analytical thinking, which helps drive his communication and negotiation skills. His background working with large clients and national agencies on out-of-home campaigns further honed his ability to manage innovative paid media initiatives.

Zach has planned, purchased, and executed paid media campaigns for clients like USCIS E-Verify, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and CDC Skin Cancer.  A die-hard Washington Nationals fan, he spends a lot of his free time at the baseball grounds with his wife, Amanda, and their two boys.

Senior PR/Engagement Strategist

Eugenia Johnson

Eugenia leads our creative PR strategy and engagement efforts, spreading awareness about social impact campaigns that tackle some of the toughest issues facing our nation today. Throughout the course of her 11-year career thus far, she has managed both national and grassroots PR tactics for a portfolio of entertainment, lifestyle and consumer brands. She has a special gift when it comes to ideating unique brand experiences, managing logistics, connecting with consumer audiences, and transforming organizational goals into results across a diverse list of clients.

Even when she isn’t on the clock, she spends her time volunteering and affecting change in her community by championing causes like Love Beyond Walls and Hosea Feed the Hungry. Inspired by her late grandfather’s coffee mug collection, she is putting together one of her own from the places she’s visited.

Director, Engagement Strategies

Rachel Bruce

As a 10th generation Floridian who has spent the last ten years in marketing for Florida’s economic development, tourism, environment, and hospitality industries, Rachel Bruce knows a thing or two about the Sunshine State. From planning large-scale conferences to providing the administrations of multiple Florida governors with expert communications strategy support, no task is too big for her to tackle. Her impressive experience combined with her impeccable organization skills and solutions-oriented approach to problem solving make her just the woman to help lead our PR and engagement efforts across a wide range of both public and private initiatives.

The very same planning and relationship-building skills that have served her so well in her career also make her quite the hospitable hostess. A Jacksonville resident by way of Tallahassee, when she’s not holding down the fort for our Engagement team, you can find Rachel spending time with her husband and son.

Digital Media Planner

Elizabeth Keibel

Don’t let the title fool you, Beth can do it all. She’s got chops in graphic design, front end web development, and content marketing, but where she really shines is in the implementation and analysis of digital media campaigns. She works with our media team, drilling down on the demographics and psychographics that help us better understand our target audiences. Always ahead of the game, she identifies trends, optimizes spend, and tracks campaign KPIs to ensure our strategic creativity finds its mark.

Beth is an explorer at heart. Back home in Northern Virginia, she was an avid hiker and mountain biker, but since her move down here to Coastal Florida, she’s learned to appreciate the joys of kayaking. When she isn’t wandering the outdoors, she’s likely in the kitchen trying her hand at a tricky new recipe or belting out a ballad in the car with her dog Scooby.

Social Media Strategist

Maya DeJoie

Some people are big picture thinkers while others revel in the nitty-gritty. Maya, however, can do both, and she loves to do it. She dives deep into the analytics on the hunt for insights that support our clients’ social media strategies and brings an impressively wide array of experiences that inform her role on the team. In past (job) lives, she’s managed accounts, talent, campaigns, and touched just about every facet of agency life. She’s nothing if not versatile when it comes to tackling different industries, but for now, it’s public health for Maya.

Don’t let the buttoned-up efficiency fool you, Maya is all about the arts, especially music, dance, and film. If she’s not critiquing a song, a music video, or a movie, she’s likely philosophizing over her existence or indulging in 90s nostalgia. When that gets too much, her primary mode of self-soothing is an LED-lit room with headphones on and an epic playlist.

Jr. PR/Engagement Coordinator

Valerie Desire

Some people learned to bake over the pandemic. Val learned to build brands. Already the go-to gal among friends and family for a witty caption, she put that background to work building accounts for her church, her work, and her own personal brand before finding her way to BG.

A self-taught content creator and natural collaborator, she’s helped us level up our engagement team with her eye for buzzworthy content and copy. Creating winning strategies and content to help our clients stand out in the newsfeed. When not crafting social media content or PR message maps, Val and her fiance spend their time at the beach, hitting their favorite brunch spot, or unwinding with friends over a game night.

VP, Communications Strategy

LeShaundra Cordier

There’s no way to condense LeShaundra’s resumé into a bite-sized blurb that properly conveys the sheer breadth of her public health experience, but suffice it to say that after 15 years of service in the CDC, her ability to develop strategies that result in actionable impact goes well beyond simply educating and informing audiences. She leads the public relations team, overseeing consumer outreach, earned, and social media efforts. A specialist in drug overdose, injury prevention, emergency preparedness, and maternal and child health, she brings the experience and strategic wisdom necessary to empower our team to develop communications products that serve the greater good.

Before becoming a public health communications expert, LeShaundra ran her own event planning business. These days, you’re likely to find her working on her dating podcast or binge watching sci-fi on Netflix with her nephew and dog.